RefreshingApps.com

The new kid on the block for friendfeed, now with an update to version 1.2, comes with ‘added tweet’ so you can twitter direct from the Alert Thingy UI.

I’m new to friendfeed and created an account so that I could give this app a good test drive. I like the idea of friendfeed especially after building my own lifestream using Yahoo pipes. So having a desktop client for friendfeed that also allows me to post to Twitter sounds like a winner to me.

Basically you can see a stream of data from everyone you follow, this can include the usual Twitter, Flickr and Facebook plus loads more like blogs and custom feeds from say Amazon wish lists. Developed by UK Strategy and Design company howard/bains it offers a nice UI and strong support for the friendfeed feature set.

So far I can’t find out how to allow multiple accounts but that might appear in a future update. Also as I have only just joined friendfeed I’m not following many people so I can’t comment on how the interface would cope with lots of action.

There is talk about a shootout between Twhirl and Alert Thingy, I just hope they don’t overload themselves with features and become too bloated.

Design eye

Nice looking app, font size can be a little small it is well laid out with clear iconography. Just like Twhirl you can change the theme from the default black, including a weird Adobe AIR theme!

Technical eye

Howard/Bains have built Alert Thingy using HTML and JavaScript. Themes are changed using CSS files within the app.

UPDATE (22 May 2008) – Howard Baines have updated Alert Thingy to now include Flickr photo uploading and some bug fixes. There is also a feedback area over at User Voice.